Improvement in rockers for cradles



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHTNEAS R. STRONG, OF COLCHESTER, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN ROCKERS FOR CRA DLES, 8w.

Specification forming part'of Letters Patent No. 155,683, dated October 6, 1874; application filed July 18, 1874.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LPHINEAS R. STRONG, of Colchester, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Rocker for Cradles, &c., of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figures 1 and 2, respectively, represent end views of my improved rocker for changing a cradle into a standing crib.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention consists of cradle-rockers with additional pieces pivoted to them in such a manner that they produce, when folded to form extensions of the rockers, a cradle, while a standing crib is obtained by turning them in upright position as extensions to the standards or feet.

In the drawing, A represents the cradle, placed on rockers B, which do not extend sidewise beyond the legs or standards C of the cradle. Additional p ieees B are pivoted midwisefothe ends of rockers B, at their connection with standards C, and preferably produced with the same curvature as the rockers, so that they form, when turned alongside of the rockers, side extensions of the same. The inner ends of piece D are locked, by means of a cross-pin, spring-catch, or equivalent device, to the rockers B, and thereby the firm connection therewith secured without dropping down duringuse or weakening the rockers by recesses.

The pivoted pieces D are swung downward when it is desired to change the cradle into a standing crib, and locked in similar manner, by the inner end, to the standards C, the outer parts forming the extensions of the same, and thereby the legs of the crib. The change may be made in an instant by attaching the pivoted exterior pieces either to the rockers or to the standards, and thus a readily-manufactured, cheap, and durable rocker device is furnished, which has the advantage of having no projecting and interfering rocker ends when used as a crib.

It will be perceived that the pieces D, which may be termed auxiliary rockers, are centrally pivoted at the ends of the main rockers of the cradle, so that, when turned in an outward direction, they will form extensions of the main rockers. When it is desired to convert the cradle into a crib, all that is necessary is to raise the auxiliary rockers to the position represented in Fig. 1. The rockers thus serve as legs, which lie parallel with the standards of the cradle, and cover the ends of the permanent rockers, which are thus not left projecting beyond the body of the crib.

I am aware that it has been proposed to convert a cradle into a crib, and vice versa, by providing ordinary cradle-rockers with pivoted feet, which can be brought to rest upon the floor for removing the rockers from contact with the same. In the form of cradle specified the pivoted feet cannot, however, be used to form extensions of the rockers; and, furthermore, the rockers always project beyond the cradle-body, which is highly objectionable when the device is used as a crib.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The centrally-pivoted auxiliary rockers or legs D, in combination with the permanent rockers B and cradle-body A, all constructed and relatively arranged as herein shown and described, for the object stated.

PHINE s R. STRONG.

Witnesses:

E. L. GATES, 'l. N. Games. 

